Self service store



June 7, 1932. 0. w. WEBB SELF SERVICE STORE Filed Sept, 26, 19 2s 4Sheets-Sheet June 7, w WEBB v SELF SERVICE STORE Filed Sept. 26, 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1932..

D. W WEBB SELF SERVICE STORE Filed Sept. 26,- 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 D.w. WEBB SELF SERVICE STORE Filed Sept. 26, 1928 June 7, 1932.

Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES DAVID W. WEBB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF SERVICE STORE Application filed September 26, 1928.

This invention pertains to stores and equipment therefor of the socalledself-service type. One object of this invention is the provision offurniture of such character that the customers may ata glance determinethe position of the goods desired, and such an arrangement of equipmentthat, having located the article sought, they may be reached directly,that is, without being forced to traverse several tortuous passages.This object is attained by not obstructing the central part of the storewith tall cases, and by so arranging relatively low, individual displaystands, that the position of the various articles may be ascertained atonce upon entering the store. The merchandise is capable of beingreached by a direct route from any part of the store.

Another novel feature consists in locating the heaviest merchandisecontiguous to the checking desk, and the refrigerator display and meatcounter in close proximity to the heavy merchandise.

Still another novel feature in my new store lay-out is the provision fordefinite individual special displays of merchandise independently of theregular stackdisplay.

It is usual in stores of the self-service type to have but one basketrack and to make the return of the baskets thereto by throwing them overthe heads of the customers. In my new and improved store there isprovided an auxiliary basket receptacle at the inner ends of thechecking desk in which thebaskets are temporarily placed by the checkeras they are emptied, thus avoiding the necessity of throwing them overthe heads of customers.

Provision is made to localize the bakery products, have them readilyaccessible, and at the same time give proper protection to the pastry.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a window and storedisplay particularly adapted to display and store fruits and vegetables,in which a minimum of space is utilized by reason of the store displaybeing located partially under the window display and yet providing amplestorage thereunder for the original packages, such as the crates andsacks in which such articles are shipped.

Serial No. 308,893.

The provision of refrigerator and storage space is more or lessconventional.

The general lay-out of the store, and certain details of constructionnecessary to carry out my invention, are shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a store embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through one of the stacks or sectionof shelving, showing thereon my basket slid-e in cross section; Fig. 3is a detail perspective of my basket slide;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of shelving adapted to carry heavy andbulky articles, such as flour, meal, or the like;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of center display shelving;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section of the shelving shown in Fig. 5, theline of section being taken on line 6-6 thereof;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-section of my improved combined bread rackand pie and cake case;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of my new combination window display rack asseen from within the store; and,

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-section of said window rack taken on line 99of Fig.8. I

My storeas illustrated in these drawings, in which the same referencecharacter always refers to the same element, consists of a main retailroom 10, arear room 11 for unpacking and storage purposes, a partition12 dividing these two rooms, said partition having a door or passage 13providing access from one to the other, and the enclosing walls 14;, 15.16 and 17 The entrance 18 is located at one side of the center of frontwall 17 for a purpose that will appear hereinafter. Arranged around thewalls are the main basket receptacle 19, the stacks 20, meat cooler 21,flour stacks 22, vegetable bins 28, and display bins 24. Display baskets25 are located adjacent the exit central rail 25 as is display'case 27.Separated from the checking desk 28, as by an aisle 29, is the auxiliarybasket receptacle 30. Disposed within the central portion of the storeare individual display stands 31, low shelving and display stacks 32,and combined bread rack and pastry case 33. The primary purpose of theindividual displays 31 is to invite attention to the wares that areregularly displayed in the side stacks 20.

In order to facilitate shopping, in addition to the elimination of alltall central stacks and displays, I have provided a basket slide andsupport 34, which consists of horizontal slide rails 35 mounted onassembly bars 36, which bars are in turn supported on brackets 37secured to mounting members 38 shaped to conform with the front faces ofthe upright frame members of the stacks 20. I also provide a rest rail39 near the top of members 38.

Heavy grocery products such as flour, corn meal, cooking compounds inlarge packages are diflicult to handle at best. In order to make theirhandling easier, special stacks 23 are provided close to the checkersdesk. These stacks 23 have a low shelf 40 which extends outward to formthe step 41. Stacks 23 also have a special shelf 42 which extendsoutward in order that the heavy containers may be slid forward so theymay be more readily handled.

My combination fruit and vegetable display, and storage fixture 24, asshown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9, is composed of end members 43, securedtogether by cross members 44 and 45. These cross members 44 and 45 alsoserve as supports for the bottom 46 of the display bins 47, which slopeat an angle of about 15 from the horizontal. The rear of the bins, asviewed from the store, is closed, by slats 48, while the front of thebin is formed by board 49 and dividers 50.

The window display portion of my combined fruit and vegetable displayfixture comprises a front board secured to supports 52 which supportsare secured at their rear ends to end members 43. Supports 52 carrymembers 53 and 54 which in turn carry dividers 55 and 56. It will benoted that the forward portion of supports 52 are cut at an an le ofapproximately 45 in order to give a slope to the display disposed onmembers 54; The whole structure is stiffened and strengthened bysuitable tie-rods 57.

Center display shelving 32 consists of suitable end members 58, a flattop 59, and shelves extending inward from each side at such an angle asto be practically in line with the line of vision of the average person.The major purpose of the inclination of the shelves is to render themerchandise readily visible, but it also serves to prevent the articlesof merchandise being accidentally pulled or knocked from their position.The inner sides of shelves 6O carry members 61 secured thereto at rightangles, and meeting at their upper edges where they are suitably securedtogether, thereby strengthening the shelving unit as a whole.

Mounted on top 59, at each end and the center thereof are standards 62.Between each two of these standards and centrally thereof are the frames63 carrying the wire mesh 64. The standards 62 support shelf 65, whichin turn carries the posts 66. The posts 66 are connected by a bar 67. Itwill be observed that the wire mesh is non-frangible and yet permitsobservation of the contents of the top of the shelving from both sidesthereof. The bar 67 may be used as a support for articles suspendedtherefrom.

My combination double bread rack and pastry case 33 consists of a loweropen mainsection 68 and an upper closed section 69. The lower sectioncomprises end members 70 having coarse wire panels 71, a top '72 andshelves 73 formed of slats and sloping slightly so that they lie insubstantially the plane of vision of the average person. These shelvesare intended for bread and other like wrapped bakery products.

The upper closed section 69 is intended for pies, cakes and similarpastry products. It is provided with double glass doors 74, end

panels 75, the bottom portions of which are L of glass7 6, while theextreme upper portion is made of fine mesh wire gauze 77. Thisconstruction renders the contents visible from all sides and alsoprovides for the free circulation of air. The visibility of the goods isincreased by making the central shelf 78 of glass. The top is coveredwith the usual top member 79.

The entrance is located at one side of the center of the store in orderthat the exit may be in a direct line from the checkers desk and yetpermit the checking desk to be practically in the center of the storelaterally.

From the foregoing description and the drawings it will be apparent thatmy new arrangement for a self-service store is entirely free fromtortuous passage; that the general location of any desired merchandisemay be determined at a glance because there are no high stacks in thecentral or body portion of the store; the control rail extends clear tothe door and gives a straight passage from the checking counter; theheavier merchandise is located adjacent the exit; because of theauxiliary rack by the checking counter, there is no throwing of emptybaskets over the heads of customers; a slide rail is provided thatrelieves frail persons from the necessity of constantly lifting a bulkyand heavy basket; and provision is made for stable position of stockwith increased visibility.

It will be understood that changes in the structure described andillustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of thisinvention, and that the appended claims are intended to cover suchmodifications.

What I claim as new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is:

1. A basket slide for self-service stores comprising a plurality of basemembers each having mounted thereon a bracket, and a rail supportsecured to said bracket, a plurality of slide rails secured to said railsupport, and a guide rail secured to said base members above saidrailsupports.

2. A basket slide for self-service stores comprising a plurality of basemembers each having mounted thereon a bracket, and a rail supportsecured to the horizontal arm of said bracket, a plurality of sliderails secured to said supports and a guide rail secured to said basemembers above the plane of said slide rails.

3. A basket slide for self-service stores comprising a plurality of basemembers each having mounted thereon a bracket, and a rail supportsecured to the horizontal arm of said bracket, a plurality of sliderails secured to said supports, a guide rail secured to said basemembers above the plane of said slide rails, and a protective Wearingsurface on sald gulde and sllde ralls.

DAVID W. WEBB.

